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Thin Again

Posted Mar 9, 2012
by Shawn Mitchell

The Blue Jackets are no longer (relatively) healthy. They left for St. Louis today with only 17 able-bodied skaters. An 18th, plucked from minor-league Springfield, will meet them in St. Louis and step into the lineup for a game against the mighty Blues on Saturday.

“I’m not concerned about the guys that we’re missing. I’m concerned about the guys we have playing,” Blue Jackets interim coach Todd Richards said. “When you play the best team in the league right now, it hopefully brings out the best in us.”

The Blues are 43-18-7 and have an NHL-best 93 points.

The Blue Jackets are, uh, banged up.

Forwards Derek Dorsett (upper body) and Derek MacKenzie (concussion), defenseman Fedor Tyutin (broken hand) and goaltender Steve Mason (lacerated hand) did not make the trip. All four were in the lineup for 3-2 win over Phoenix on Tuesday. The Blue Jackets recalled forward Maksim Mayorov on Thursday and will recall another player, most likely a forward with some heft (Cody Bass? Dane Byers?) on Saturday morning.

Richards said Dorsett could play on Sunday for a return game against the Blues in Nationwide Arena. Mason and right wing Jared Boll (broken foot) could return for a trip to Western Canada next week. Tyutin could be done for the season. MacKenzie is out indefinitely.

“We told him to stay away from the rink,” Richards said after an optional skate this morning. “Sleep in, get what you need. We’ll get another opportunity to see him but he won’t be making the trip.”

Goaltender Allen York was recalled from ECHL Chicago this morning. He will back up Curtis Sanford this weekend. York has played a grand total of 20 games in three leagues this season, although he started two games for Chicago earlier this week. He has made four appearances for the Blue Jackets. He and Sanford are the only healthy pros currently under contract with the Blue Jackets.

“There is obviously some concern when you get that far down the depth chart,” Richards said. “But it’s all that we can do. If we need the call-up then he has to be the guy.”

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